Custer plans battle against deer problem

November 14, 2007

CUSTER (AP) - Deer have become so common in Custer that one resident says they've learned to use crosswalks and even wait for traffic lights to turn green. That doesn't mean, however, that they're popular. In fact, city officials are considering plans to shoot white-tailed deer in Custer this winter because the local herd has become so large. Rapid City has used sharpshooters for several years to reduce that community's troublesome deer herd, and Pierre officials plan to follow suit. “We're doing a public survey right now. And we'll be having a meeting or two to determine attitudes,” said Rex Harris, Custer's community development director. “If they (Custer residents) agree with it, we'll probably look to Game, Fish & Parks for their recommendation as to the best way to handle it. I think there's only one way.” In Custer, it's estimated that 60 to 70 deer each year are hit by motor vehicles. “They're brazen,” Harris said of the deer. “They come up to people's doors, walk across people's roofs that are low enough. Everybody likes to see deer. You just don't like to see that many of them, eating your stuff.” Just how thick are they? Recent counting by Game, Fish and Parks officials found an average of 23 deer per mile of roadway in the morning at Custer and 176 deer per mile in the evening. The GF&P did a survey in October that counted almost 200 deer in an eight-mile route in the outer portions of the city. John Kanta of Rapid City, a GF&P regional game manager, said he thinks the agency will grant Custer's deer-killing permit if the city asks. “It's not just willy-nilly killing deer,” he said. “They're working on their management plan now. Once they get that done, I hope to work with them on what they want to do.” Harris said he thinks there will be substantial opposition to any deer-reduction plan, but that he expects support from most residents. “I think we'll see a 60-40 split, if we're lucky,” he said. “I've gotten calls in the last two or three weeks from people who seem to think we'll totally eliminate the deer. Once I explain that it's just a reduction, they become pretty reasonable.”